Jets Not Giving Up

The New York Jets probably won’t make the playoffs this season, but they could have a strong say in who does.

After a 1-6 start, Coach Bill Parcells’ resurgent team has won three in a row, giving up only 31 points in the process.

But the remaining schedule is not easy: the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, two games against the Miami Dolphins, the Seattle Seahawks in their finale, plus games against two NFC playoff contenders, the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants.

“It’s too early to be thinking or talking about playoffs,” defensive tackle Ernie Logan said. “But it’s also too soon to give up and we haven’t.”

In Indianapolis, the Colts are prospering, and so is running back Edgerrin James, who credits a strong work ethic.

“Every day, I’m working and trying to get better, because you never know how long it’s going to last,” he said. “And you want to be remembered for being one of the great players of the NFL.”

The rookie from Miami, who ran for a season-high 152 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday’s 44-17 rout of the Philadelphia Eagles, is second in the NFL with 1,006 yards rushing and tops the league in total yards from scrimmage with 1,420.

Less than a year after he etched his name forever in the minds of UCLA fans by ruining the Bruins’ season last December, James has a shot at Eric Dickerson’s club rushing record of 1,659 yards.

CENTRAL / Cowher Gives Warning

This is the first time in Bill Cowher’s eight seasons as coach that the Pittsburgh Steelers (5-5) are so far out of the playoff hunt with six games to play, and Cowher is more than a little upset about it.

“I’m not looking at this point to make changes, but I’m going to make changes if we don’t get results,” he said. “It’s changes with everything, and the players have been told that. The bottom line is we’re not getting it done, and I don’t want to hear excuses or what ifs.

“Right now, I want to see results.”

After consecutive losses to the Cleveland Browns and Tennessee Oilers, the Steelers probably must win their last six games, or at least five of six, to retain any hope of making the playoffs.

Several years ago, when the Steelers had far more talent than they do now, such a streak wouldn’t have been out of the question, especially with four of their final six at home. But they have lost 10 of their last 15 dating to last season, including five of their last six at home.

They missed the playoffs last season after losing their final five games.

In Jacksonville, nobody was happier to see the Jaguars finally open up their offense than receiver Jimmy Smith, who caught three passes of 40 yards or more and finished with a career-high 220 yards receiving in Sunday’s 41-23 victory over the New Orleans Saints.

“When you’re a two-time Pro Bowl receiver, you don’t want to spend the entire game blocking downfield,” he said. “You want to make plays, because that’s my job. It’s frustrating, but then again, this is a team sport. There are going to be games where you don’t have the 100-yard games and long touchdowns.”

Only a week earlier, the Jaguars struggled to a 6-3 victory over the Baltimore Ravens.

WEST / Good for Holmgren

Trying to end the longest playoff drought in the NFL--they haven’t qualified since 1988--the Seattle Seahawks are running away in the division and have a five-game winning streak after their first victory in Kansas City since 1990.

“I’m pleasantly surprised,” Coach Mike Holmgren said of the Seahawks’ 8-2 record. “I thought this team could do well, but this is a good record after 10 games.”

A great coach, and a math whiz too?

In Denver, Bronco Coach Mike Shanahan was understandably miffed at fans who pelted the Oakland Raiders with snowballs after Monday night’s 27-21 overtime Bronco victory at Mile High Stadium.

“For someone to throw a snowball at somebody is classless,” he said. “If you want to throw something at me and hit me with a snowball, I think you deserve to be punched. I think there’s a handful of people that do things like that. They have a few too many drinks.”

On the plus side for Shanahan and the Broncos, at least the snowballs weren’t directed at them.

Fans at Mile High reacted angrily earlier this season after the Broncos dropped to 0-4, and Bronco cornerback Dale Carter was hit in the eye with a metal object as he headed toward the locker room.

The Raiders, by the way, have lost their last six overtime games.